Sign



Feb. 9, 1943. H. w. WILLIAMS 2,310,665

SIGN Filed March 7, 1941 ATTORNEY.

. INVENTOR H OLD W WILL/A M5 BY M Patented Feb. 9, 1943 SIGN Harold W. Williams, Scarsdale, N, Y., assignor to Lumelite Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 7, 1941, Serial No. 382,183

13 Claims.

This invention relates to signs, and more particularly to signs containing light-reflecting studs.

The nature and objects of this invention will become clear from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an illustrative sign embodying and containing the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an expanded View showing the details of construction of the light-reflecting studs;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the light effects produced by a reflecting stud; and

Figure 5 is a section of another embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, light-reflecting studs, hereinafter more fully described, are arranged on and secured to a panel in accordance with the desired indicia to produce a sign. Each stud is so designed and constructed that, when light rays from any source impinge on the front thereof, a solid circle of light will be visible to an observer viewing the sign from the front thereof. Each stud is also so constructed and designed that, when light rays from any source impinge on the rear surface thereof, an annular ring of light will be visible to an observer viewing the sign from the front thereof. As will hereafter be more fully explained, each stud is also so constructed and designed that it will produce multi-colored effects when light rays are incident thereon.

In order to morerfully explain the nature of the invention, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, and wherein the reference numeral I designates, generally, a sign constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and comprising a panel 5 having light-reflecting studs 6 arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and secured in the panel,

. as hereinafter more fully described.

of the sign determines the nature of the material constituting the panel. Thus, if the sign is intended for outdoor use, as, for example, a road marker, then the panel 5 may be made of a material which is resistant to the elements of the weather, such as sheet metal, plastic, or the like. On the other hand, if the sign is to be used indoors, then the panel 5, though it can be made of a weather-resistant material, need not be made thereof, but may be made of any other suitable material.

In order to enhance the appearance of the sign I, the panel 5may be made in any desired shape and/or appropriately decorated. For example, the front face of the panel 5 may be provided with an appropriately colored or multi-colored coating. If desired, though it is not essential, the indicia may also be delineated by an appropriate colored coating, such as is generally indicated by the reference numeral 8. The colors of the panel coating and/or the indicia are preferably of contrasting colors and of a hue which will tend to intensify the effects produced by the sign during the use thereof. H

The construction of the studs 6 is one of the important features of this invention. In one embodiment, each stud 6 comprises a head 10 having a rearwardly extending integral hollow skirt II. The stud 6, as is shown in the drawing, is also provided with an integral annular shoulder l2, which, in the preferred form, is intermediate the head l0 and the skirt II.

The head I is preferably solid and its exposed surface I3 is convex. Though in the preferred form, the head I0 is circular in cross-section, the invention is not restricted to such shape. Likewise, the exposed surface l3 need not be made convex in shape, but may be horizontal and provided withfacets.

For reasons which will become apparent hereafter, the skirt II is not in alignment but is olfset with respect to the head 10. In other words, in the preferred form, the inner periphery of the skirt H is in alignment with the exterior periphery of the head It).

The skirt II is made of a length to accommodate a reflecting element I5 which is positioned in the interior thereof.

V The reflecting element H), in the form shown, comprises a cup-shaped element formed of a material having a light-reflecting surface 16 which preferably is concave. The cylindrical wall 18 of the cup l5 frictionally engages the inner peripheral wall of the skirt H and the cup i5 is firmly secured in position thereby. In the preferred form of the invention, the reflecting slight taper. This aids in more effectively securing the cup I in position.

Each stud 6 is inserted from the rear of the sign panel into a hole provided in the sign panel, so that the head I 0 of the stud will be within the hole and the shoulder I2 will engage the rear surface of the sign panel 5. The hole into which the head of the stud is positioned is of a diameter greater than the diameter of the head In. To secure the stud 6 in position in the respective hole in the panel 5, there is provided a locking ring 29. As shown, the locking ring comprises an annular portion 22 which is adapted to fit into the space between the hole and the head of the stud. The locking ring is provided with a horizontally extending flange 24, which is adapted to engage and seat on the front face of the panel 5. The locking ring 20 is made of a size so that it can be frictionally secured, i. e. press-fitted, in the space between the head of the stud and the wall of the hole in which it is inserted. It is made of a height so that it will preferably rest on or be supported on the shoulder I2.

Due to the details of construction, it will be noted that the annulus 22 of the locking ring 2!] is in alignment with the skirt II of the stud. In the form shown, though the width of the annular portion 22 of the locking ring 20 is the same as that of the wall of the skirt II, the invention is not restricted to such construction. The width of the annulus 22 of the locking ring 20 may be greater than, equal to, or less than the width of the skirt II. In any event, when the locking ring 20 is inserted in position, the inner edge thereof will be in alignment with the inner edge of the skirt II, with the result that the annular portion 22 and the wall of the skirt II will be in alignment, even though one or the other may be of greater or lesser width.

The material of which the stud 6 is made should be such as will transmit both incident and reflected rays of light without substantially dispersing such rays of light. In addition, the material should present pleasing and non-glaring effects when subjected to rays of light. Acrylate resins, and particularly methyl methacrylate resins, sold under the trade-name Lucite, possess the aforementioned properties and char acteristics to a very high degree, and accordingly, in the preferred form of the invention, the stud 6 including the component elements thereof, i. e. the head ID, the skirt II and the shoulder I2, are formed of an acrylate resin, and specifically methyl methacrylate resin sold under the tradename of Lucite.

In the preferred form, the stud 6 consists of a single unit in which the head II], the skirt II and the shoulder I2 are integral, and is formed by. appropriate molding of the acrylate resin.

The locking ring 28 is alsomade of an acrylate resin, and specifically methylmethacrylate resin sold under the tradeename-of fLucite. The

locking ring is also made by molding and the components thereof are also integral.

If desired, the locking ring 20 may be secured in position by means of an adhesive. When this embodiment is employed, an adhesive formed of an acrylate resin, preferably the same which constitutes the stud, dissolved in an appropriate volatile solvent may be employed. Alternatively, both the adhesive and press-fitting may be utilized to secure the locking ring in position.

Due to the construction of the stud 6 and the arrangement of the locking ring 20 with respect thereto, when light rays impinge upon the lookilluminated. Light rays impinging on the head I0 will be transmitted therethrough to the reflecting surface It of the reflecting cup I5 and will be reflected back through the head I0, whereby the convex face of the stud will appear to be illuminated. When light rays impinge on the rear of the stud, said light rays will be transmitted through the skirt II, shoulder I2 and locking ring 20. Since the reflecting cup I5 is opaque, it will prevent any light rays impinging thereon to be transmitted or reflected to the front of the stud. As a consequence, when light rays impinge on the rear of the stud, there will be presented to the view of an observer from the front an annular ring of light.

The invention is capable of being used to produce multi-colored effects, and this may be accomplished in various ways. If desired, the locking ring 20 may be formed of a colored or dyed acrylate resin with the result that, when light rays impinge or are transmitted therethrough, said light rays will, when viewed by an observer, be of the color which characterizes the locking ring. Alternatively, a coloring agent of the appropriate hue may be incorporated in the adhesive employed to secure the ring in position. If desired, the upper surface 25 ofthe shoulder I2 may beappropriately colored, or the lower surface of the ring 22 may be appropriately colored. The expressions coloring agent or colored as usedfherein are intended to include phosphorescent or luminescent materials or effects. Thus, assuming that one of the aforementioned means has been utilized, then light rays impinging on the front of the locking ring 20 will be transmitted, as previously described, and will appear to the observer in front as an annular ring of colored light 30. 'The light rays transmitted through the head ID to the reflector I5 and reflected thereby through said head will appear as a. solid circle 3| of white light which is bounded by the ring of colored light 30. When light rays impinge on the rear of the stud, then there will appear'to the observer in front of the sign an annular ring of'coloredlight.

Though, in the preferred form, the stud 6 is described as being formed of an acrylate resin, it is to be understood that it can be made of any other light-transmitting or light-diffusing material'.

Though the flange 24 is shown in the drawing as being circular, the invention is not restricted to such a shape. According to the invention, the flange 24 may be made of any desired form or shape, regular or irregular.

If desired, the hole in the panel may be such that the head II] of the stud. may be frictionally held therein? In this form as shown inFigure 5, the locking ring 23 will not require any flange and will be adhesively secured to the front face of the panel by an adhesive 35, colored if desired, and thereby lock the stud in position.

The term"sign used in this description and in the appended claims is not intended to be restricted to any specific type of display medium, but is intended to cover display signs, markers, decorated panels, traffic warnings, materials intended to reflect light rays either for use as warnings or ornamentation, etc.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the above description Without departing from the nature or spirit thereof, this inventionis not restricted thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projectin forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hol- W skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head to secure said head in position.

2. A sign comprising a panel provided With a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said lockin ringhaving a flange seated on the front face of said panel.

3. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring being seated on said shoulder.

4. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmittin stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head to secure said head in position, said locking ring, said shoulder and said skirt being arranged to permit transmission therethrough of light rays impinging thereon.

5. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmittingstud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt in which at least a portion of the wall of said skirt is in an offset relationship with respect to said head, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring being disposed so that it is in alignment with said skirt wall.

6. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmittin stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a cup-shaped reflector positioned in and frictionally secured by said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head to secure said head in position.

7. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a cup-shaped reflector positioned in and frictionally secured by said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring having a flange seated on the front face of said panel.

8. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a cup-shaped reflector positioned in and frictionally secured by said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring being seated on said shoulder.

9. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a cup-shaped reflector positioned in and frictionally secured by said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral Wall of said head to secure said head in position, said locking ring, said shoulder and said skirt being arranged to permit transmission therethrough of light rays impinging thereon.

10. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt in which at least a portion of the wall of said skirt is in an offset relationship with respect to said head, a cup-shaped reflector positioned in and frictionally secured by said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring being disposed so that it is in alignment with said skirt wall.

11. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring engaging the peripheral wall of said head and securing said head in position, said locking ring being adhesively secured by a colored adhesive to said panel.

12. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting and locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head to secure said head in position, said locking ring being adhesively secured by a colored adhesive to said panel.

13. A sign comprising a panel provided with a plurality of spaced holes arranged in accordance with the desired indicia and a light ray reflecting and transmitting stud disposed in each hole, said stud having a head positioned in said hole and projecting forwardly therefrom, said hole having a diameter larger than said head, said stud having a shoulder engaging the rear face of said panel adjacent said hole, said stud having a hollow skirt, a reflecting element positioned in said skirt, and a light ray transmitting locking ring positioned in said hole and engaging the peripheral wall of said head, said locking ring having a flange seated on the front face of said panel,

said locking ring being adhesively secured by a colored adhesive to said panel.

HAROLD W. WILLIAMS. 

